Closet Republicans?

[JNB]

   Bleieve it or not, untill the mid 80s, SF actually had whole neighborhoods that one could call conservative and on occasion voted GOP for president. Carter only had 52% of the vote in SF both times he ran. But what took place in SF, and in fact has taken place in the entire Bay Area is what one could term "right flight". Simpily put, those with conservative views can not longer tolerate living in the Bay Area, and the cost of living is prohibitive for young familes there.

[JNB]

and the cost of living is prohibitive for young familes there.

Very true. Have a look at THIS

   I understand London has a similar problem. The Bay Area is lucky that there are large numbers of skilled workers who bought homes there before real estate ran up in the mid 80s, and also its lucky(if one would call it that) that there are large numbers of illegal immigrants willing to live in conditions that not even Americans llived in during the 30s, such as 10+ per 2 bd home/apt that keep the price of basic labor low. But none the less, the Bay Area nor Orange County can sustain this.

[JNB]

 A sort of hi-jacking of a thread, but a history lesson. Untill the late 80s, the Bay Area wasnt that much of a Democratic stronghold. With the exception of the 64 election, from 60 till 84, it was very slightly Democratic leaning swing territory. That change started to accelerate in 88 but it wast fully complete untill 96.

   How the Bay Area stacked up untill the early 90s was that SF was its liberal core, along with Oakland and Berkely, but as I stated previously, untill the mid 80s, SF did have some neighborhoods that voted GOP on the presidential level. Marin county was Democratic leaning swing territory, and Napa was Republican leaning swing territory. Alameda county as a whole was Democratic, but cities such as Fremont were swing territory, while the tri valley area(Livermore, Danville) were Republican leaning. Contra Costa County was as a whole swing territory, but with very heavily black Richmond taken away, it was actually GOP leaning.

  Lastly, San Mateo county was considred Democratic leaning swing territory, though a bit less upscale than Marin, and Santa Clara County was as a whole swing territory, with the North and East ends Democratic, and the West and South end Republican.

  Hard to believe, but there is not any place in the Bay Area than can be called solidly and even GOP leaning anymore. Walnut Creek, in Contra Costa County was called Orange County North, now goes for Democrats by a 20 point margin on a regular baisis. The best the Republicans can do is break even in the Livermore-Danville corridor(Tri Valley area).